Deoxygenation of inclosed atmosphere



Aug. 20, 1929. c, RODMAN 1,725,160

DEOXYGENATION OF INCLOSED ATMOSPHERE Filed D80. 23. 1922 WITNESSES: INVENTOR W C/arence J. Rad/flan 41 4 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

CLARENCE J. IRDDMAN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMYANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

DEOXYGENATION F INCLOSED ATMOSPHERE Application filed December 23, 1922. Serial No. 608,799.

My invention relates to means for and methods of deoxidizing inclosed atmosphere, and it has particular relation to the deoxygenation pf air in contact with the insulat- 5 ing oils of electrical apparatus, such, for example, as transformers, circuit breakers, and the like. V One object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient arrangement whereby the deoxygenation of inclosed atmospheres may be accomplished in minimum periods of time. A second object of my invention is to provide a method of deoxygenation of inclosed atmospheres whereby the isolation of apparatus or material from air is effectually accomplished.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby an agent for deoxidizing atmosphere may be rendered abnormally active.

It has been found desirable, in the operation of transformers, circuit breakers and other apparatus, to isolate the insulating oils from contact with air in order to prevent deterioration of the oil and the formation of explosive mixtures in the tanks for inclosing the apparatus. It has been found advisable also to provide suitable means for relieving differences in pressures between the interior of the tanks and the external atmosphere. An apparatus for accomplishing certain of the desirable results specified above is shown and described in the copending application of Walter M. Dann, Serial No. 608,970, filed Dec. 23, 1922, and assigned to the \Vestinghouse Elec. & Manufacturing Company.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide means whereby a suitable deoxidizing material, such as that constituting the 40 subject-matter of my copending application, Patent No. 1,557,090, issued October 13, 1925, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, may be temporarily rendered abnormally active in order to hasten the removal of oxygen from a body of,inclosed air. I provide also means whereby the circulation of the inclosed air is aided in order to materially decrease the time required to complete the deoxyg'enation.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a tank with my invention applied thereto, certain of the apparat-us being shown diagrammatically.

A tank 1, which may be employed to inclose any suitable apparatus, electrical or Otherwise, is partially filled with oil, indicated at 2, to a level, indicated at 3. A space 4., above the oil, is adapted to be filled with an inert gas to be supplied in a manner hereafter described. A cover member 5 is secured to the tank 1 in any suitable manner to render the connections air-tight.

A deoxidizing chamber 6 is connected to the space 4 by two pipes 7 and 8. The deoxidizing chamber 6 is provided with deoxidizing material, indicated at 9 and indicated diagrammatically at 10, adjacent there to, is a heating element that is in circuit with a suitable source of current, such, for example, as a storage battery 11 and a controlling switch 12.

The deoxidizing chamber 6 is connected to the external atmosphere by means of a relief valve that is shown diagrammatically as a U- tube 13.

It may be assumed that the tank 1 incloses any suitable apparatus and that the space 4 above the oil is initially occupied by ordinary air. The deoxodizing material 9 1s activeat ordinary temperatures to gradually remove the oxygen from the inclosed air. However, in order to insure that the oxygen is effectually removed and to reduce the time required for this operation, the deoxidizing material is heated by means of the heating element 10.

WVhen the element 10 is heated upon closing the switch 12, the deoxidizing material is rendered highly active, and the heat generated by the chemical action resulting from its combination with oxygen is sufiicient to maintain the temperature of the deoxidizing agent without the heating element. Accord- -ingly, the latter is employed only to initiate the rapid removal of the oxygen.

During the operation of removal of oxygen, eircluation of the air contained in the space 4 occurs relatively rapidly by reason of the provision of the two pipes 7 and 8. For example, it may be assumed that air passes downwardly in pipe 7 and upwardly in pipe 8.

When the process of deoxygenation is completed, the gas remainin in the space 4 is substantially nitrogen, w ich is entirely inert, and the formation of explosive mixtures of hydrocarbon gases and oxygen iseflectually prevented. If, during the operation of the apparatus, the pressure within the casing differs from that of the atmosphere by predetermined values, depending upon the characteristics of the relief valve 13, the latter operates to permit the escape of inert gas or to permit the admission of air to the tank. 1, according to the direction of the greater pressure.

The deox'idizing material 9 operates to remove oxygen from such air as mayenter the system through the relief valve 13, and at the same rate that the air enters. As a result, the gas within the tank 1 is rendered free from oxygen at all times during the operation of the device.

The advantages of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention arethat the apparatus may be quickly and efi'ectually placed in condition for service by increasing the rate at which the deoxygenation of the air takes place. Not only is the deoxidizing material rendered abnormally active, but the circulation ofairfrom the space above the oil is aided by the provision of parallel circulating pipes.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to tanks, such as are adapted for use in connection withelectrical apparatus, it will be understood that my invention is equally applicable to any apparatus in which it is desirable or necessary to isolate certain parts or materials embodied therein from the atmosphere and in connection with which it is desirable to provide for variations in pressure therein.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a container, of means for providing inert gas therefor comprising a deoxidizing agent that is active at the ordinary temperatures of air, the activity of which is affected by its temperature, and means for heating said deoxidizing agent.

2. The combination with a container, of means for providing inert gas therefor comprising a deoxidizing agent that is active at the ordinary temperatures of air, the activity of which is affected by its temperature, and electrical means for heating said deoxidizing agent. k

3. The combination with a container, of means for providing an inert gas therefor comprising an agent for removing oxygen from air at ordinary temperatures, said agent 1 having mcreased activity when heated, and

electrical means controlled externally of said container for efiecting the initial heating of said agent.

4. The combination with a container, of means for providing an inert gas therefor comprising an agent for removing oxygen from air at ordinary temperatures, a chamher for said agent and a plurality of passage.- ways for connecting said container to said chamber to permit a circulating current of air to move therebetween.

5. The combination with a container, of

,means for providing an inert gas therefor comprising an agent for removing oxygen from air, a chamber for said agent and means for effecting the circulation of air between said container and said chamber, said means comprising a plurality of communicating passageways therebetween.

6. The method of deoxidizing a body of air which comprises enclosing said bodyof air and a deoxidizing agent and then heating said deoxidizing agent to increase its chemical activity and cause the body of air to circulate thereover.

7. The combination with a container initially filled with air, a second container, a de oxidizing agent for the air, disposed therein and communicating passageways therebetween, of means for expediting the circulation of the air therebetween.

8. The combination with a container initially filled with air, a second container, a de-oxidizing agent for the air disposed therein and communicating passageways therebetween, of means for expediting the action of the de-oxidizing agent.

9. The combination with a container ini-- tially filled with air,.a second container, a

de-oxidizing .agent for the air disposed there tween, of thermal means for expediting the I circulation of the air therebetween.

10. The combination with a container initially filled with air, a second container, at de-oxidizingagent for the air disposed therein and communicating passageways therebetween, of electrical means for expediting the circulation of the air therebetween.

11. The combination with a container initially filled with air, a second container, a de-oxidizing agent for the air disposed therein and a plurality of communicating passageways therebetween for permitting'a circulation of air between the two containers, of means for expediting the circulation of the air therebetween.

12. The combination with a container initially filled with air, a second container, 9. de-oxidizing agent for the air disposed therein and communicating passageways therebetween, of means disposed in the second container, for expediting the action of the de-' the contained gas into engagement with the modifying means. I

14. In combination, a container partially filled with gas, chemical-means for treating gas while entering the container, and means for causing the container gas to circulate into engagement with the chemical means. 15. In combination, an electrical device partially filled with gas, means for deoxidiz- 5 ing gas while entering the electrical device, and means for causing the contained gas to circulate into engagement with the deoxidizing means.

16. In combination, an electrical transformer partially filled with gas, means for deoxidizing gas while being drawn into the transformer, and means for causing the contained gas to circulate into engagement with the deoxidizing means In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of December 1922.

CLARENCE J. RODMAN. 

